Occupant-propelled vehicle



Feb. 10. 1925.

I 1,525,843 0. WHITE, JR

OCCUPANT PROPELLED VEHICLE 3 Sheets-Shee 1 Filed Ap r il 1, 1922 Feb. 10. 1925.

0. WHITE, JR

OGCUPANT PRQPELLED VEHICLE Filed April 1, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/V VE/V TOR Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,843

0. WHITE, JR

OCCUPANT PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed April 1,1922 4 3 Sheets-$heet :3 2 Z 7 7 6 5 litter/nag Patented Feb. 10, 1925..

STATES ownn WHITE, JR,

or SIBLEY, IOWA.

OGCUPANT-PROPELLEID VEHICLE.

Application filed April 1, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN WHITE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Sibley, in the county of Osceola and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Occupant-Propelled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to occupant propelled vehicles and more particularly to a velocipede.

An important object is to provide a velocipede wherein the body, which represents a goat, is caused to move vertically at its rear end to represent the bucking of a goat.

A further object is to provide a velocipede wherein the goat-body is formed with a pivoted head having rearwardly projecting horns which constitute means whereby the velocipede may be steered.

Further the invention aims to provide novel means whereby the bucking of the goat is caused to operate a bellows which in turn creates a noise somewhat similar to the bleating of a goat.

Also, an important aim is to provide a velocipede of the character specified wherein the body of the goat is provided with a tail which i actuated by the bucking of the cat.

6 A further object is to provide a velocipede which is of highly simplified construction, simple to operate and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate the parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved velocipede, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional perspective illustrating the bellows and tail operating means.

Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the means for permitting the goat to buck.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure v1.

Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line 7-7 of Figure 6, and

Serial No. 548,612.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 1. I

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates a body which represents a goat and which is provided with a head 6 hinged as indicated at 7 so that the head may be moved about a vertical axis in a manner hereinafter described. As illustrated in Figure 1, the head 6 is provided with rearwardly directed longitudinally curved horns 8 which terminate at a point above the back of the goat and which form a means whereby the velocipede may be steered. It will be seen that the operator who is seated on the saddle 9 may conveniently grasp the handle bars 8 for steering the velocipede.

The representationof a goat above de scribed is adapted for mounting upon a wheeled supporting structure or frame 24 which is equipped with a front axle 13. The ends of the axle are connected by knuckles 17 of conventional design, to a pair of wheels 16. The steering knuckles 17 have arms 18 projecting rearwardly therefrom which are pivotally engaged with a steering rod 19. The rear end of the frame 24 has a wheel 34: rotatably mounted therein the axle 36 of which projects beyond the ends of the frame and'is formed to provide supporting fingers 37.- The wheel 84 constitutes the drive wheel and is adapted to be operated by a sprocket chain 31 which is trained about a sprocket wheel 33 carried by the axle 36. The sprocket chain is also trained over a sprocket wheel 30 superimposed upon the frame 24 approximately midway the ends of the latter and carried by a shaft 27.-- The hub of the sprocket wheel 30 is, held in fixed engagement with the shaft 27 by means of a set screw 30. The opposite ends of said shaft extend beyond the sides of the frame 24 and have pedals 28 associated therewith. The shaft 27 is mounted upon a suitable supporting structure 30 as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 1. The supporting structure 30 has openings 30 formed therein any one of which may receive the shaft 27 thereby permitting adjustment of the latter for raising or lowering the pedals to adapt the same for use by children of different sizes riding in the saddle 9. The pedals 28 are so positioned as to be accessible to a child sitting in the saddle 9 so that the vehicle may be conveniently propelled in an obvious manner by the child.

The body 5 has an inwardly curved surface 5 formed at its forward end for receiving an outwardly curved portion 6 formed on the head section 6, said head section 6 resting upon a shoulder formed on the body 5 as indicated at 5 Secured to the body 5 and extending from the inwardly curved surface 5 is provided a plurality of bearing members 5 the outer ends of said members 5 being received in openings 6 formed in the head section 6 and having openings in their outer ends for receiving the vertical steering post 21. Secured to the head section 6 is also provided a plurality of members 6 having openings in their outer ends that receive the steering rod 21, said members being secured to said post bypins 6* passing through both of said members, whereby the turning of the head will turn the steering rod.

It is to be understoodthat the specific structure illustrated for hinging the head to the body is only to be considered as a conventional form.

In order to permit the vehicle to be steered the rod 21 extends downwardly through the front part of the body 5, through the axle 13 and into engagement with the steering rod 19. The upper end of the rod 21 is attached to the head 6 so that rotative move ment of the head 6 will impart a corresponding rotative movement to the rod 21 causing the latter to be turned on the axle 13 and imparting a longitudinal movement to the steering rod 19 to turn the wheels 16. The lower end of the rod 21 is passed through an opening formed in the steering rod 19 approximately midway the ends of the latter and is held from displacemen by a cotter pin or other suitable means 21 The front legs 11 of the body 5 are hinged, as indicated at 12, to the axle 13 and serve as a support for the front end of the body. The head 6 and body 5 are not connected. ence the head 6 is free to rotate without imparting movement to the legs 11.

The rear legs 38 of the goat are connected to the fingers 37 of the rear axle 36 so that as the vehicle is propelled the rear portion of the goat will be caused to move in a vertical plane to represent the bucking of a goat.

A universal joint 20 is mounted on the rod 21 just above the axle 13 to permit the upper end .of said rod to swing forwardly when the rear portion of the body is elevated. and are pivotally connected to the body by a pin 40 extending through said legs and through a pair of downwardly depending arms ll and 42 rigidly carried by the body 5. The upper ends of the legs 38 are curved The legs '38 are connected together on an are from the pivot pin 40' as inclicated at 43 and snugly engage an inwardly curved portion formed in the body so as to make a neat pivotal connection for said legs. While this construction shows a hinged connection, it is to be understood that the legs 38 may be joined to the body in any conventional manner to give a limited flexibility to the legs.

The bucking of the goat is utilized as a meansfor operating a bellows 44: one wall of which is formed by the under side of the body 5. The upper wall 4-5 of the bellows is hinged to the body as indicated at 46 and the rear end of the bellows is connected to a permanent rod 18 extended upwardly from a transverse bar 49 carried by the frame.

In operation, the body of course is moved upwardly and as the upper wall 45 is held in a substantially stationary position the bellows is contracted and the air is expelled for operating a reed'50. The noise created by the reed represents the bleating of a goat and it is thus seen that the goat bucks and bleats simultaneously.

The upper end of the stationary rod 18 has connection with a rope or cord 60 which is in turn connected to a leaf spring 61. As illustrated particularly in Figure 3, the leaf spring 61 is connected to an'arm 62 which latter is carried by a tail 63 which projects outwardly beyond the rear end of the body 5. The tail is pivotally mounted in said body 5 and is moved on its axis when the body moves vertically thereby causing the spring 61 to be flexed and impart, in conjunction with an elastic cable 61, to which the inner end of the spring is engaged, a vibratory or wiggling movement of the tail.

W'ith reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that a coil spring is mounted on the rod 48 between the body 5 and an adjusting nut 72 and as the nut 72 is threaded on the rod the tension of the coil spring may be varied as the occasion requires. Specifically, the coil spring 70 provides acushion support for the body and enables the same to gracefully return to its lowermost position.

In use of this device the operator sits on the saddle 9 and propels the vehicle forward by operating the pedals 28 in a manner well known in the art. Operation of the pedals imparts movement to the drive wheel 34: thereby causing the rear end of the goat to be raised and lowered in a manner heretofore described. When the rear 'end of the goat is raised and lowered an audible noise is produced by the bellows is and the tail 63 caused to move. lVhen the rear end of the goat is raised to its maximum height the front feet of the goat will move slightly forward from the axle 13, the movement being limited in view of the hinges 12. As

the rear end of the goat moves downwardly the head is urged upwardly by contact of the forward end of the body of the goat with the inner end of the neck.

I claim 1. A velocipede comprising a frame, an axle carried thereby, wheels connected to said axle, a cross bar having connection with said wheels, a vertically arranged steering rod connected to said cross bar, a figure mounted on said frame and having a hinged head, said figure representing a goat and the head being provided with rearwardly directed horns constituting handle bars, said steering rod being connected to said head, and a propelling mechanism arranged beneath said figure.

2. A velocipede comprising a frame, an axle carried thereby, wheels connected to said axle, a cross bar having connection with said wheels, a vertically arranged steering rod connected to said cross bar, a figure mounted on said frame and having a hinged head, said figure representing a goat and the head being provided with rearwardly directed horns constituting handle bars, said steering rod being connected to said head, a propelling mechanism arranged beneath said figure, said figure being provided with front legs horizontally hinged to said axle, whereby the rear portion of the figure may move vertically.

3. A velocipede comprising a frame, an axle carried thereby, Wheels connected to said axle, a cross bar having connection with said wheels, a vertically arranged steering rod connected to said cross bar, a figure mounted on said frame and having a hinged head, said figure representing a goat and the head being provided with rearwardly directed horns constituting handle bars, said steering rod being connected to said head, a propelling mechanism arranged beneath said figure, said figure being provided with front legs horizontally hinged to said axle, whereby the rear portion of the figure may move vertically, and a bellows arranged within said figure and operated by the vertical movement of the same.

4. A velocipede comprising a frame, an axle carried thereby, wheels connected to said axle, a cross bar having connection with said wheels, a vertically arranged steering rod connected to said cross bar, a figure mounted on said frame and having a hinged head, said figure representing a goat and the head being provided with rearwardly directed horns constituting handle bars, said steering rod being connected to said head, a propelling mechanism arranged beneath said figure, said figure being provided with front legs horizontally hinged to said axle, whereby the rear portion of the figure may move vertically, a bellows arranged within said figure and operated by the vertical movement of the same, and a rod rigidly connected to said frame and having its upper portion connected to the bellows whereby the upward movement of the body results in the contraction of the bellows, the forward portion of the bellows being hinged to the body.

5. A velocipede comprising a frame, an axle carried thereby, wheels connected to said axle, a cross bar having connection with said wheels, a vertically arranged steering rod connected to said cross bar, a figure mounted on said frame and having a hinged head, said figure representing a goat and the head being provided with rearwardly directed horns constituting handle bars, said steering rod being connected to said head, a propelling mechanism arranged beneath said figure, said figure being provided with front legs horizontally hinged to said axle, whereby the rear portion of the figure may move vertically, a bellows arranged within said figure and operated by the vertical movement of the same, a rod rigidly connected to said frame and having its upper portion connected to the bellows whereby the upward movement of the body results in the contraction of the bellows, the forward portion of the bellows being hinged to the body, a flexible element connected to the upper portion of said rod, a spring connected to said flexible element, and a tail pivoted to the figure and connected to said spring whereby the tail is caused to move when the body is moved vertically.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OWEN WHITE, JR. Witnesses:

W. R. THOMAS,

LILLIAN MEYER. 

